Last of Area's Seven Retailers Stays with Ultimate Consumer and Opens New All-service Store

The yard was formerly owned by Oregon wholesaler John Manning, who operated the Atlantic Lumber Co. in Portland until five years ago yhen he retired.

When government regulations under the OPA curtailed their operation, Bundschuh began to diversify the yard in an attempt to attract more of the do-it-yourself trade.

YRTLE AVENUE Lumber & Hardware Co. celobrated their 20th anniversary last month with the grand opening of a brand new IQ000 sg. ft. ehowroom at & new location for the Monrovia, Calif. yard.

Caught in the path of an on-coming freeway, the yard simply moved over to the adjacent two-acre lot to let the freeway pass. The firm's old building will soon be razed to construct a freeway off-ramp.

Myrtle Ave. Lumber also begins its third decade in business with a brLd new set of owners. They are Norb Bundschuh, who has served as general manager of the yard since it opened in 1946; Paul Forman, assistant manager and Margaret Unrau, office manag€r.

Myrtle Avenue Lumber's new operation is a far cry from the yard that began in an orange grove in l9t[6 with an office in a garage. In those days it was strictly volume sales of lumber to contractors who were flourishing due to the post-war housing shortage. Less than five percent of the yard's sales was to do-it-yourselfers.

"We used to sell lumber as soon as it arrivedright ofi the railcar. We didn't even have any lift trucks and we'd have to unload it by hand as we sold it," recollected Bundschuh, who had taken over as manager of the yard after a l0-year stint with Patten-Blinn Lumber.

At that time there were seven retailers operating in the area. Today, Myrtle Avenue Lumber is the sole survivor.

As evidence, Bunschuh ofiered Myrtle Avenue Lumber's sales and profit picture.

"For a while we continued to sell volume. but finally we awoke to the lact that if we were going to make any headway, we w€re going to have to reach the ultlmate consumer," commented Bunschuh.

"I didn't look forward to a future of being tied to the building permit cycle, with the resulting booms and busts," he added. ttlt's a big step," says the dealer, "catering to the public takes a lot of energy, but it does pay ofi," he added.

When asked how a dealer makes ,the transition from volume yard to all-service store, Bundschuh chuckled: o'It's easy. You just raise your prices. Your contractor customers will drop you as if you had leprosy."

When Myrtle Avenue Lumber made the transition, what remained was a core of small contractors, carpenters and the beginnings of a good handyman trade. Today, do-it-yourselfers account for more than 85 percent of the yard's gross sales.

Last year the firm posted gross sales o{ more than $600,000 and achieved what industry analyst Art Hood once called "the lumberman's dream"l0 percent net profits.

"And we only sold one house job last year, and that was to a personal friend," Norb continued.

The new store ofiers every conceivable facility and product for the do-it-yourselfer ranging from carpentry and painting to plumhing and electrical repairs. Thel' also

NEW SIORE (lef0 is an all-steel structure. Translucent plastic panels provide a colorful exterior and allow additional light in the showroom. The building was constructed in a scant two months. Grand opening have a design and planning center for those interested in custom work. o'We'd had growing pains for years," he said. "Our problem was one that many dealers face: just too many good products guests were treated to free coffee, punch and donuts, and invited to sign up for a prize drawing. Presiding at the punch bowl (center photo) is pert Paula Forman, daughter of assistant manager Paul and too little space. We had to turn down inventory that we knew we could have madg m6nsy on simply because we didn't have the room lor it."

"We've been able to put to use in the new store a number of lessons that we learned during our 20 years at the old yard," commented Bundschuh.

The biggest problcm that confronted the dealer at his old location was simnlv the lack of display space.

With the expansion, Nlyrtle Avenue Lumber is also attempting to foster more "help yourself" business.

"We're inviting our customers to serve themselves. If thei need help, we have salesmen standing by. We hope to develop a happy marriage of the two," dealer Bundschuh concluded.

Forman. Product demonstrations were conducted throughout the opening. At right, Grace Beaton gives step-by-step instructions on antiquing using Tone 'n tioue Wood Tone.

President Lqmenls Builders' Plight

In a recent press conference, President Lyndon B. Johnson stated the administration was "seriously concerned with the pilght of the home builder" and the increased costs "involved in the high in' terest rates."

The President's remarks followed the release of figures on June housing starts which hit a five-year low and reports of a still-de' clining rate of influx of deposits to savings and loan associations.